When 6-foot-7 freshman Jordan Tucker first stepped foot on the sprawling campus of White Plains High, there was hype, hearsay and heavy buzz surrounding his every move.
Tucker was tasked with helping recharge the pulse of the Tigers, which teetered on the fringe of
mediocrity last season.
White Plains struggled mightily during the 2012-2013 season, a forgettable one rife with growing pains.
White Plains struggled mightily during the 2012-2013 season, a forgettable one rife with growing pains.
Tucker, whose shooting can stretch out
defenses and draw taller defenders away from the post, has rapidly
relished these loud expectations.
“I have big expectations, but it doesn’t really
bother me,” said Tucker, who dropped 19 points (draining five 3-pointers in the
first half) and snared six rebounds during the Tigers recent 62-54 win over
Peekskill.
“I want this pressure…That’s when I’m at my
best.”
Several programs have jumped in on the
chase for the freakish freshman.
Offers from Oklahoma, Detroit, Providence, Xavier,
Fordham and Manhattan are all on Tucker's table.
Tucker rattled off Arizona, Miami, Virginia, North
Carolina and Villanova as programs that have expressed interest.
“Manhattan offered me over the summer, after I
went to their Elite Camp,” explained Tucker.
Manhattan also offered electrifying Spring
Valley guard Ricky McGill, who committed to the Jaspers during the fall.
McGill poured in 30 points in 21 minutes on
Thursday, propelling Spring Valley to a thorough 95-62 bludgeoning of Bedford
Academy in the Slam Dunk Challenge.
At White Plains, longtime head coach Spencer
Mayfield enforces wallpaper-tight, rim-to-rim defense with an iron fist.
White Plains, a Section I/NYS program, has churned
out a number of high-profile players over the years.
There is Cincy senior and NBA prospect Sean Kilpatrick.
There is former Manhattan guard Devon Austin.
There is Cincy senior and NBA prospect Sean Kilpatrick.
There is former Manhattan guard Devon Austin.
There is
former Bridgeport guard David Boykin, who is currently playing professionally
in China.
There is hyper-athletic and gravity-defying guard Ra’Shad James, currently with the Reno Bighorns in the NBA D-league.
Don’t argue with history.
There is hyper-athletic and gravity-defying guard Ra’Shad James, currently with the Reno Bighorns in the NBA D-league.
Don’t argue with history.
Now the Tigers are led by senior Mike DeMello, a
cerebral 5-foot-10 point guard. The Tigers are off to a 3-0 start.
What is the issue guard/swingman Tucker and
point guard DeMello create for defenses?
You can’t let either player breathe…
You can’t let either player breathe…
Both are
two of the Section’s top shooters. Both possess range well beyond the confines
of the arc. Simultaneously, both can break games open when they develop a hot
hand.
DeMello scored a
game-best 20 points and doled out four assists, catapulting White Plains to a 56-39
win over rugged Fox Lane during the recent Harrison tournament.
The Pace-bound guard
also embodies the defensive philosophies of Mayfield, with hands quick enough
to snatch a wine glass falling from a barroom ceiling.
“Having
Mike with me in the backcourt, it’s less stressful on my game,” said Tucker,
who has the potential to be Section 1’s most prolific scorer assuming he gains
a presence in the low post.
“Mike
can really pass but when I’m tired, he can get a bucket or two and get the
defense focused on him. We can switch it up. If he’s being keyed on, it opens
up opportunities for me.”
If
Tucker’s offensive pace continues, those opportunities should continue to come
his way.
-doubles while constantly drawing double teams The uncommitted senior recently erupted for 43 points-- including 22 in the fourth quarter--during an 84-78 loss to Scanlan on Nov.30.
Manhattan Canisius, and Long Island are all in pursuit of the wiry 6-foot-3 guard.